5 Local Beers For 5 Local Weed Strains: A Tasting Pairing Mini-Guide

May 18, 2015 By Fischer Campbell

If you are like me, then you prefer to enjoy a tasty grain with a tasty strain. Here are 5 local beers & 5 local recreational marijuana strains that will go well together (in this author’s opinion, of course):

(Oh yeah. This is just a pairing guide for tasting, NOT for drinking. And remember, consume responsibly. We are not responsible for your irresponsibility.)

Beer: Elysian Brewing Co. – Immortal IPA (6.3% ABV)

Strain: CannaSol Farms – Jack Herer

Let’s all forget that Elysian was just acquired by Anheuser Busch (capitolhillseattle.com has a wonderful write up and dialogue about it). Elysian Brewing makes a mean IPA, and this Immortal IPA has a refreshing hop flavor that isn’t overpowered. In our review for Jack Herer, we suggested enjoying the strain with a fragrant IPA – so here’s our choice!

Beer: Fremont Brewing Co. – 77 Select Spring Session IPA (4.0% ABV)

Strain: Dutch Brothers – Seattle Cough

One of my favorite breweries, the Fremont Brewing Company creates a vast amount of select delicious brews – made all the better from the tap at their humble Fremont location. Seattle Cough is a potent strain that will take the drivers seat when combined with this crisp 77 Session IPA – the herb is nitrogen purged to lock in flavors of vanilla, pine and grapefruit. Day = made.

Beer: Pike Brewing Co. – Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ruby Ale (6.5% ABV)

Strain: High Altitude – Obama Kush

Ach lads, a good thick ale is just what Dr. Fischer ordered. This Kilt Lifter Ruby Ale is malty scrumptious, offering caramel thickness in a style I can only describe as “Scotchtoberfest” (yes, I went there). Such luxurious nature should be accompanied with a presidential nug, namely Obama Kush: a spicy funky specimen worthy of your vote.

Hales Ale Supergoose Avitas Agriculture Snoops Dream

Beer: Hale’s Ales Brewery – Supergoose IPA (7.0% ABV)

Strain: Avitas Agriculture – Snoop’s Dream

A classic Northwest brewery, Hale’s Ales has been around since the 1980’s and is located in Fremont. Supergoose is a balanced borderline-imperial IPA. The hoppy flavor will lend itself to Snoop’s Dream’s duality of sweet and spice. Meerkat! With a cape!

Bellevue Brewing Company Torch NW UFO Flower

Beer: Bellevue Brewing Co. – 425 Pale Ale (4.8% ABV)

Strain: Torch NW – UFO Flower

Pale ale’s are usually light on taste, but this 425 packs a punch of crisp malty love. This author can only recommend sampling generously, preferably from a tap. The flavorful 425 really made me want some UFO Flower, a ludicrously good tasting strain. Picture a white mystery flavored Airhead, smack it some skunk-funk and you’ve got this tasty bud.

(Again. This is just a pairing guide for tasting, NOT for drinking. And remember, consume responsibly. We are not responsible for your irresponsibility.)

Stuff to do for every stoner: May 2- May 7, 2015 Edition

May 2, 2015 By Manic Conrad

Sleater-Kinney at The Showbox

If you ever spent some time in the Olympia area, you may have driven on the street known as Sleater-Kinney, where this great american rock band got its’ name. They just spoiled us with 3 dates at the Showbox beginning Thursday, May 7. Check out this recent video of Sleater-Kinney live on NPR.

When: Thursday, May 7-9, 2015

Time: Doors open at 8:00pm

Where: 1426 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

More info: www.showboxpresents.com/events

Suggested strain of cannabis: Most definitely a strain of Sativa. Try Sour Diesel by Cannasol Farms.

Green-Elite VIP Event at Green-Theory

Call it what you want. Since there is a DJ, we like to use the work ‘party.’ The first recreational marijuana shop on the Eastside is hosting another one of these really cool events for members only. If you are not a member, don’t worry, you can still sign up. DJ Kryspin will be providing the candy for your ears, snacks and refreshments will be on hand, a bunch of the top vendors in the industry will be on hand, and member discounts galore! Click here for more info or check out Green-Theory’s Facebook page.

When:

Thursday May 7, 2015

Time:

Between 7-10pm

Where:

Green-Theory
10679 Main Street Suite #2
Bellevue, WA 98004

Contact:

425.502.7033

Orange Dracula

Tourists, you can thank us later, enjoy! Locals, this is a little gem that you may find yourself going back to every so often. Orange Dracula is a dime store for people with strange and unusual tastes. Consume your cannabis-infused edible in the privacy of your whatever and take a stroll downtown to Pike’s Place. Real black and white photo booth, Dracula pinball, love tester and more!

Where:

1501 Pike Place #319, Seattle, Wa 98101

More info:

http://orangedracula.com/

Suggested cannabis-infused edible: A hybrid. Best of both worlds. Try Zootsrocks by Zoots.

Frye Art Museum

Stoners on a budget. We feel you. Especially since Seattle is now the #4 richest city in the nation. Yikes. But have no fear, and no sulking. Taking a deep breath and exhale. Now good luck.

Just kidding! We got you covered. Frye Art Museum. They have an exhibition called ‘A Graphic arts Time Capsule of Europe: 1895-1900.’ And it’s free!

Where: 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104

More info: http://fryemuseum.org/

7 Impressive Marijuana Packaging Designs [New Edition]

March 23, 2015 By Ellie Klein

Clever marketing and eye-catching packaging are two important details to consider when trying to sell a product. This is why businesses spend so long deciding on their logo – because the logo represents the whole brand and therefore has a major input on all of the businesses marketing and branding. As a new business, it’s important that you perfect your logo before you officially start up.

With all of that in mind, growers opt for impressive packaging to appeal to consumers. Many use companies that specialize in custom boxes design so that they can create packaging that really stands out. With marijuana becoming more mainstream and with more companies trying to sell similar products, packaging could be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful business. This is even more important if you decide to open up your own vape shop through a company similar to vaporfi. From edibles to flowers, the marijuana products found on Seattle shelves are impressive and fun. Following are seven of High Above Seattle’s current favorite retail marijuana packaging designs.

The Goodship Company, by Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale

Jody Hall has joined forces with Seattle-based edible manufacturer DB3 to bring a line of THC-infused cookies to Seattleites. The Goodship Company currently sells two kinds of cookie: sea-salt chocolate chip and Saigon cinnamon snicker doodle. The labels feature hip pirate ships and hot air balloons, perfect for Seattle smokers. The inviting packaging will appeal to many demographics, including adults who are just getting back into smoking.

CannaSol Farms

CannaSol Farms‘ packaging is unique and eco-friendly. The containers are glass cylinders, and the stoppers come in either cork wood or regular wood. The top is custom engraved with the company’s logo. CannaSol is committed to the environment and intends for the packages to be repurposed–as drinking glasses, for example.

Ocean Grown Wax

If you are searching for sleek and sophisticated packaging, look no further than Ocean Grown Wax. The package features a black background and light gray lettering, with a circular wax detail in the center. The package is far from busy though is unique. Its simplicity puts first-time marijuana users at ease, and appeals to tourists looking for something fancy to commemorate their trip.

Evergreen Herbal

Nothing says Pacific Northwest more than an evergreen tree. Evergreen Herbal specializes in chocolate, tea, and other beverages. Its products are bite-sized, which minimizes packaging and resources used. As you can probably guess, Evergreen Herbal’s logo is an evergreen tree silhouette accompanied with easy-to-read font. Classy packaging with a green mission? This is a product to stand behind.

Zion Botanicals

Are you searching for a product logo featuring a mystical lion, crystals, a Ganesh and tree of wisdom? Of course you are, and Zion Botanicals has just what you are looking for. You know what else is great? Zion Botanicals grows organic marijuana, so once again we have a producer invested in amazing packaging as well as the environment. Win win!

Tasty Vape and Royal Oil Wax

These two brands feature colorful packaging and images that pop. These designs were created by local industry rock stars Online Marijuana Design. Both, the Tasty Vape and the Royal Oil Wax packaging consist of images that are instantly familiar–juicy fruits, island getaways, and sweet treats, that are true to the strain inside the packaging. To see how to refill a vape cart, check out this vape pen cartridge refill guide.

There you have it, seven impressive marijuana packaging designs from the local industry. This compilation represents the diversity of marijuana smokers. If these packages are any indication, marijuana-smoker stereotypes do not exist. And these branding ideas are going beyond the cannabis industry. General vaping, such as with Nicotine Salt E-Liquids, is becoming more and more vibrant in their packaging. Be sure to pick up one (or more!) of these exciting brands on your next trip to a recreational shop and let us know what you think! Do you have any other brands that you would like to see featured? We would love to know!
Have you got your own medicinal marijuana company and you’re wanting to improve your packages design? Look into a printed packaging company and see what they could do for you.

If you liked this article, check out more marijuana branding and design.

Marijuana Review: Jack Herer from CannaSol Farms

January 9, 2015 By Fischer Campbell

Welcome back and Happy New Year. We took a little break from reviews to thoroughly enjoy the holidays, and now High Above Seattle is back for a much more stoned 2015.

We’re ringing in the New Year with Jack Herer, a sativa strain from CannaSol Farms; it was purchased from marijuana boutique Green-Theory (read our review!) for $27.40/gram.

This is in fact the fourth review we’ve written about CannaSol Farms’ product (see here, here, and here) – if that doesn’t tell you something, then let me go ahead and tell you somethin’. CannaSol Farms is based in Riverside, Washington and has a focus on growing superb marijuana. They were recently featured on High Times, and are one of our favorite producers.

Let’s take a look at our first strain of 2015, Jack Herer:

Jack Herer is named after a marijuana activist, and was apparently cultivated in the Netherlands around the mid-1990’s. It is a cross of a Haze hybrid, Northern Lights #5, and Shiva Skunk.

Here’s the specifics for our strain:

Sativa
THCA: 19.55%

(view the photo for more information)

The herb at hand had a very spicy smell when I opened the package, almost too spicy – like it had been overcooked. Little did I know, this is a telltale sign of a truly great Jack Herer strain. Upon splitting apart a nugget, the spicey aroma was overpowered by a pungent lemon dish cleaner scent.

As you can see from the photos, the nugs themselves were pretty small – but well cured all the same. They crumble nicely, and contain a tremendous flavour when smoking through a vaporizer. The taste is piney and tangy, almost hoppy (like an IPA).

Naturally, after taking a hit – I had to get up, grab an IPA from the fridge (Widmer Brothers’ Hopside Down) and drink it alongside hitting the ol’ Hot Box.

The high is that of a creeper, slowly sneaking up until there’s no denying that you’re stoned off your ass. Don’t be fooled and keep smoking until you are high, take your time and let it sink in. Although the high is staggeringly potent, there is a crispness and clarity that allows you to function normally or perhaps even better then usual.

Sometimes pot gives you powers, and this indeed a powerful strain. I’d recommend Jack Herer for getting work/chores done, going out, having a good time – it’s really a doin’ stuff kinda herb. Oh right, and it goes great with an IPA!

Nice job CannaSol Farms, per usual. Tune in two weeks from now for another marijuana review.

UPDATE: Check out all of our marijuana reviews or the list of weed stores in Seattle that sell cannabis.

Marijuana Review: Sour Diesel by CannaSol Farms

November 20, 2014 By Fischer Campbell

Steezin’ on some deez – or something like that. This week, HAS will be reviewing Sour Diesel produced by CannaSol Farms. We snagged a gram at $31.05 from Seattle-area marijuana boutique, Green-Theory.

We’ve actually reviewed products from CannaSol Farms in the past, and have gone in depth about the Riverside, WA producer’s values, mission statement, and team. Check out our reviews of Durban Poison, and Alice in Wonderland for detailed information on CannaSol Farms.

An important value to reiterate is that CannaSol Farms believes in product that is organically based, and locally sourced. All strains are produced sustainably with no salt based nutrients, ensuring the highest quality.

Something worth mentioning is that CannaSol Farms has slightly changed the design on the front sticker of the package. The new logo is much more clean, and still lovingly adorns the slogan “cannabis unplugged”. I like to envision that my nugs are playing an acoustic set every time we sample a CannaSol Farms product, perhaps a garage session – regardless, CannaSol cranks solid strain riffs every time we jam.

Another new packaging related item to point out is that CannaSol now has a customer hotline included on the back! Not really sure what we’d use a customer support line for, possibly something along the lines of help I’m too high and can’t get up. All the same, it’s good to know that for all those new to smoking marijuana, that there is a hotline where you would presumably be able to learn more about the product you’re enjoying.

Let’s see some specifics about Sour Diesel:

Sativa
Total Active Cannabinoids – 13%
THC – .26%
CBD – .05%

(for more details, please see the sticker photo)

Sour Diesel is a strain I’ve had a lot of experience with – there are several different varieties (New York, etc.), but this stuff is just straight up deez. CannaSol Farms did an excellent job of locking in the smell, and flavor – so let’s get right into it.

Upon opening the package, this author could sense a strong sour/lemon scent. There is no spice, no earthiness – this Sour Diesel aroma is akin to pine-sol, industrial grade cleaner that almost burns the nostrils. In my opinion, it is important for a Sour Diesel to have a pronounced fragrance, this iteration of the strain does not fail on that quality.

The look and feel of the bud is just what you’d want; crumbly, yet not falling apart. Deep red hairs decorate this well shaped nug, and a thin stem completes the package. This author sampled Sour Diesel from a bowl, and a water pipe – both were smooth, not harsh.

The taste is profoundly sour, almost like a phantom Sour Patch Kid (sans the sugar) plopped himself on your palate. There is a mouthfeel similar to cotton (or tannins from wine, if you know your stuff).

Regardless of this specific Sour Diesel being billed as a sativa, there was some intense body high action happening – all and all the high felt more like a hybrid. Dig in, get ready for this meditative and focused feeling to take you away. To aid the experience, I put on some Indonesian Gamelan music (intended for the Gods) and pretty much just spaced the fuck out.

Lately, this author has been firing up the old Xbox One and playing some Assassin’s Creed: Unity. Blasting back to the 1700’s Renaissance era of France has been a trip further enhanced by the indulgence of Sour Diesel beforehand, and during.

I can’t imagine an individual being able to do much other then being couch locked for this high, so be prepared for a stay-in kinda night (or day) with Sour Diesel – and that is certainly never a bad thing. You need stay-at-home nugs sometimes, and I thank CannaSol Farms for their excellent take on Sour Diesel.

UPDATE: Check out our updated list of Seattle marijuana stores and our weed reviews.